A FORMER Rugby man, who had been a scout master, has admitted possessing pornographic images of young children....

A FORMER Rugby man, who had been a scout master, has admitted possessing pornographic images of young children.

The pictures were found after police seized computer equipment belonging to Coventry social worker David Leslie Linforth, aged 55, who pleaded guilty at Coventry magistrates court yesterday to possessing indecent pictures of children.

The court was told that some of the pictures stockpiled by Linforth involved youngsters? faces being superimposed on the bodies of adults engaged in sexual acts.

Linforth, formerly of Newland Street, Rugby, but now of Hothorpe Close, Ernesford Grange, Coventry, now faces losing his job with Coventry City Council, the court was told. He has been suspended since the police raid.

He admitted two charges of possession of indecent photographs and two offences of making indecent ?pseudo? photographs.

Magistrates decided Linforth should be sentenced at Coventry Crown Court.

Alison Green, prosecuting, said police searched Linforth?s home on July 7 and seized two computers along with several CDs and floppy disks.

The material was examined over three days and hundreds of indecent images of children, both male and female, were found.

Another search was made at Linforth?s work address, and further computer hardware and disks were seized. But these have not yet been examined, said Mrs Green.

Linforth told police he had swapped indecent pictures with another man on the internet.

Christopher Jones, in mitigation, said that his client?s loss of reputation and previous good character, would be most significant.

He added: ?The allegations are purely of possession. There is no suggestion of any commercial gain by supplying (these photos).?

Linforth was released on bail on condition he has no contact with the scout movement or unsupervised contact with children aged under 16.

Coventry social services said: ?Mr Linforth was suspended immediately after this matter was discovered.

?He was not working with children, at the time, but with adults. We will now be carrying out a full disciplinary investigation, in line with council procedure.?